Softball Beats Jacksonville State And Evansville At Buzz Classic

WOODSTOCK, Ga. – The Georgia Tech softball team (11-4) scored 22 runs on 25 hits, including 11 for extra bases, en route to a 4-3 win over Jacksonville State (9-4) and 18-1 against Evansville (1-10) on Friday in the first day of action at the Buzz Classic. Junior Jessica Sinclair and freshman Alysha Rudnik each hit two home runs while junior Shannon Bear had three doubles, a home run and five RBI for the Yellow Jackets.

Senior Kristen Adkins (5-2) picked up the win in the first game against Jacksonville State as the Gamecocks stranded 13 runners on base. Adkins walked six and gave up two earned runs (three total) on nine hits. She fanned one. Tech had seven hits against Jacksonville State starter Tiffany Harbin led by senior Christy Jones going 2-for-2 with a walk. Freshman Alysha Rudnik and junior Shannon Bear each hit home runs for the Yellow Jackets.

In the second game against Evansville the Yellow Jackets hit three home runs and had 10 extra-base en route to an 18-0 win. Junior Jessica Sinclair hit two and Rudnik added her second one of the day as the Jackets went on to its second win of the day.

Freshman Lindsey Anderson (3-0) pitched a one-hitter and had eight strikeouts and two walks.

In game one against Jacksonville State, the Yellow Jackets scored a couple of runs in the second inning on a pair of solo home runs. Freshman Alysha Rudnik led off the frame with a home run to dead center field for her third round-tripper of the season. Two batters later, junior Shannon Bear’s towering drive down the left-field line just stayed inside the foul pole for her first home run of the year.

The Yellow Jackets added a run in the third inning as a squeeze bunt by senior Kristine Priebe scored senior Christy Jones from third base. Jones had singled earlier in the inning and moved to third on a hit by junior Kelsi Weseman.

The Gamecocks got an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning on a RBI single by Kelci Johnston, but the Jackets got it right back as Jones delivered a two-out RBI single. It could have been a bigger inning but Jacksonville State left fielder Tyris Branford made a diving catch in left field robbing junior Kate Kuzma of a two-run hit.

The Gamecocks crept back a little closer in the top of the sixth inning as Kelci Johnston ripped a line drive home run over the fence in center field for her first home run of the season and made it a 4-2 game in favor of the Jackets.

In the seventh inning Adkins had to escape a bases loaded jam as Tech hung on for the 4-3 win. With runners at first and third, one out and a run already in, the Gamecocks tried a suicide squeeze. When Tess Echols missed the bunt attempt, the Jackets got the second out of the inning as Hilary Phillips was caught in a run down. After a hit batsman and infield single, Jacksonville State had the bases loaded Johnston, who homered in her last at bat, grounded out to third.

Game two against Evansville saw the Yellow Jackets score four runs in the first inning and cruise to the win. Rush had a two-run double, while Bear and Weseman also added RBI for the Yellow Jackets.

Sophomore Jessica Sinclair made it a 5-0 game with a solo home run to left field. It was the second home run of the season and second in as many games for her.

Georgia Tech blew the game open with three more runs in the third as Priebe had a RBI triple and Rudnik added her second home run of the day, a two-run shot to dead center field.

Then in the fourth inning, the Jackets scored eight more times to take a 16-0 lead. The highlight of the inning was a two-run home run by Sinclair that was still rising when it hit the top of the light tower in left field. Bear had a two-run double in the inning and freshman Ashley Thomas also drove in a pair of runs with a triple.

The 19th annual Buzz Classic continues through Sunday at the Twin Creeks Complex in Woodstock, Ga. Georgia Tech will play will play Boston University (1 p.m.) and Penn State (4 p.m.) on Saturday and then Western Kentucky (11 a.m.) and Massachusetts (1 p.m.) on Sunday. Live stats for all of the games will be available at www.RamblinWreck.com. For complete information on the Buzz Classic, visit the tournament central page at http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/2011-buzz-classic.html.

Follow Georgia Tech Softball all season at www.Twitter.com/GaTechSoftball and on Facebook.